International Journal of Language and Linguistics 2018; 6(5): 154-162 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ijll doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20180605.13 ISSN: 2330-0205 (Print); ISSN: 2330-0221 (Online) Pragmatics Pattern of Translating Lingnam Culture-Loaded Words and Phrases—Taking English Periodicals of the First Half of 19 th Century in China as an Example Wang Hai 1, Wang Haichao 2, Zhang Shuo 1, * 1School of Interpreting and Translation Studies, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, China 2Department of Anthropology and Sociology, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, London, the United Kingdom Email address: *Corresponding author To cite this article: Wang Hai, Wang Haichao, Zhang Shuo. Pragmatics Pattern of Translating Lingnam Culture-Loaded Words and Phrases—Taking English Periodicals of the First Half of 19th Century in China as an Example. International Journal of Language and Linguistics . Vol. 6, No. 5, 2018, pp. 154-162. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20180605.13 Received : June 26, 2018; Accepted : August 2, 2018; Published : October 12, 2018 Abstract: In this essay, we attempt to explore the implication of the pragmatic patterns of Lingnam-culture-loaded words and phrases in the English periodicals translated mostly by protestant missionaries during the 19 th century. With a keen interest in Cantonese and Lingnam cultures, foreign dwellers have launched English periodicals, aiming to familiarize their fellowmen with Lingnam’s local customs, and Chinese society in general. Such cultural distinctions embedded in numerous Lingnam- culture-loaded words and phrases have guided mission activities to conduct in local communities. We apply a deep analysis of the first hand missionary periodicals, and argue firstly, protestant missionaries translated Lingnam-culture-loaded words and phrases into English with model “Cantonese Transliteration + Liberal Translation (+ Paratext)”. Secondly, we find that while compiling English-Chinese dictionaries and publishing periodicals, protestant missionaries initially annotate a Cantonese entry by Roman alphabet, then translate it liberally, at times appending paratexts, which comment on cultural difference concerning the terms. In this view, the model of “Cantonese Transliteration + Liberal Translation (+ Paratext)” has been examined as one efficient way to promote Lingnam and Chinese culture into the West. One of methodological significance of this essay is it has systematically analysed the annotation methods prevailed in various foreign periodicals, for instance The Indo-Chinese Gleaner, The Canton Press, The Canton Miscellany, The Chinese Repository and so forth. Also the academic implication of this essay lies in the fact that it firstly has neatened the annotating system of Lingnam-culture-loaded words and phrases, and secondly, is a full endeavour to unpack how the annotation system has been generated and influenced on the transmission of Lingnam and Chinese culture. Keywords: English Periodicals in China, Lingnam-Culture-Loaded Words and Phrases, Pragmatics Pattern Gleaner (1817-1822), edited by William Milne, was 1. Introduction published. From May 1831 to December 1831, The Canton In the first half of nineteenth century, Qing Dynasty Miscellany , a journal of Chinese literary studies launched in employed “The Canton System” (single port commerce Canton, was in circulation, involving numerous Chinese system) throughout the whole China, which enabled the literary studies but no current events. It is targeted at the elite Lingnam district to be the site for foreigners’ business and of English-speaking countries, editors of which are periodicals publishing, including Canton, Macao, and Hong anonymous. As an encyclopedic English journal, The Kong. In 1818, aided by other missionaries, Rev. Robert Chinese Repository (1832-1851) introduces Chinese society Morrison established Anglo-Chinese College, where Chinese to westerners, aiming to clearly spread information and was accessible to Europeans, and western religion and readily collect papers, travel notes and translations [1]. In a science to Chinese [1]. In the situation, The Indo-Chinese word, foreigners in China including missionaries, merchants 155 Wang Hai et al. : Pragmatics Pattern of Translating Lingnam Culture-Loaded Words and Phrases—Taking English Periodicals of the First Half of 19th Century in China as an Example and officials started The Indo-Chinese Gleaner , The Canton India, which by features and letters report history, justice, law Register (launched on Nov. 8, 1827), The Canton Press and culture. Articles cover Southeast Asia countries’ society, (launched on Sept. 12, 1835), Chinese Courier and Canton such as China, India, Thailand and Singapore and other Gazette (from July 28, 1831 to April 14, 1832), The Canton countries. Among them, features like History of Medicine in Miscellany , The Chinese Repository and so on. Those China, Superstitions and Customs of the Chinese and newspapers are conducted to keep an account of Bibliotheca Sinica are in serialization, introducing Chinese missionaries’ preaching, impart western knowledge, and society and Lingnam culture. promote Chinese culture. Meanwhile, they convey The Canton Miscellany is targeted to cover advice or information on the Far East, Chinese society and Lingnam entertainment events for readers, including world news culture to foreigners in China and overseas. related with Canton and China ( The Canton Miscellany , Generally speaking, English periodicals and journals of the Introduction ). It runs articles on Canton and Lingnam culture first half of the 19 century in China were successful, started as main contents. Most features are printed independently, of by missionaries in charge of targeting option, operation, which lengthy articles like a Journal of Last Embassy to report and publishing. Dissimilarly, their Chinese periodicals Peking usually are in serialization, and letters and cultural and journals then went begging, which were started in features like Chinese Phrases are regular columns. Lingnam and neighboring regions to preach Christian The Chinese Repository is mainly circulated in Canton, as doctrine. They include The Chinese Monthly Magazine once publishing house transfers to Macao and Hong Kong. (1815-1821), Monthly Magazine (1823-1826), Universal Among English periodicals and journals, it includes the Gazette (1828-1829), and Eastern Western Monthly largest number of articles on Lingnam culture and social Magazine (1833-1837). In short, Chinese journals of conditions, with its contents being the most complete and Christianity started by protestant missionaries are failures. detailed. Several columns, such as Description of the City of “Among Chinese periodicals and journals started by Canton, Topography of the Province of Canton and Walks foreigners, Morrison’s The Chinese Monthly Magazine and About Canton, introduce Canton cityscape, history, Medhurst’s Monthly Magazine are firstly in circulation after architecture, residents, education and the imperial the reign of the Emperor Kea-king is ended (approx. 1796- examination, temples, geography and trade. One of them, 1820). However, before long both of them cease publication acquainting readers with local conditions and customs, based [2].” Those periodicals and journals weren’t accepted by on what Elijah Coleman Bridgman, the managing editor, see China’s gentry who owned discourse right. “China’s gentry in Canton and Macao, extracts articles from his travel notes. are deeply proud of their traditional culture, neglecting Essays on Lingnam’s folk customs, such as “English Christian doctrine. What’s more, western missionaries use translation of eight sights of Canton” and “Chinese pidgin the slang of the middle class and underclass, with plain and English” also appears in columns, involving postscript, vulgar language, despised by China’s gentry. Thus secular miscellanea or news report. periodicals and journals are slightly treated, which literates In the first half of the 19 th century, English periodicals and scarcely read [3].” journals in China were filled with numerous terms and key Culture and social conditions of Canton, Macao, Hong words reflecting Lingnam culture. Those words, phrases and Kong and Shanghae where foreigners assemble attract groups idioms are what people perceived in natural world, human to read English periodicals and journals. After The society and spirit world. As a result, these terms, entitled as Declaration Respecting Transit Duties signed at Nanking and Lingnam-culture-loaded words and phrases, show that in the Supplementary Treaty was signed between the United long course of history, how Lingnam folks’ living is Kingdom and the Qing Dynasty of China, and a provision to distinguished from that of other countries and regions. “So the Treaty of the Bogue was applied, Shanghae opened for called Lingnam-culture-loaded words and phrases are unique foreign trade. It was not until during 1850s-1860s that the entries in a culture, showing for thousands of years how a foreigners’ headquarter was moved from Canton, Macao and nation has behaved over years varied from other nations [4].” Hong Kong to Shanghae. So did their assembling place and Because of its unique geographical position and natural publishing house. Thus, in the first half of the 19th century, environment, as it continues to open for foreign culture and English periodicals and journals were most printed in trade, Lingnam region is boastful of a distinct culture. Lingnam, including